Digital Divide: The Lack of Wi-Fi for Students at Home.

The Lack of Wi-Fi for Students at Home

A survey that included 2,462 American school teachers over digital media use in the classroom, found: low-income students disproportionally lack access to broad band internet at school and home, which limits teachers’ own capabilities in the classroom. 56% of those teachers call it a “Major Challenge” to using quality online resources in their lessons.

The Lack of Wi-Fi for Students at Home

The Washington Post found that 3% of low-income students have internet service at home compared to 50% of higher-income students.

Creative Ways Students are Getting Access to the Internet

Wi-Fi at McDonalds, Starbucks and Burger King plus other establishments to do their school work.

Using public library for school work (when they are open and usually have time limits on their computers).

Technology

Has been called ‘Democratizer in Education’, because it allows students from all backgrounds to access the same resources and tools, when and if affordable/available to the students.

Others see technology potentially harmful, and widening an already substantial achievement gap related to issues of equity.

Technology

Nearly every child in the country has access to internet at school

Nearly 9 million students in the United States do not have access to the internet or computer at home.

The Effects from ‘NO’ Wi-Fi on Student Achievement Levels

Difficulty completing projects on time

Not completing homework or assignments

Not being able to connect with teachers and other students

Spending quality time on projects to access their creativity

The Effects from ‘NO’ Wi-Fi on Student Achievement Levels

Not being able to share content

Not having access to digital textbooks and other digital tools when at home

Are disadvantage as coursework and workplace skills become more dependent on technology

What Can be Done to Help Students get Access at Home?

Florida for 1 year will offer low-income families internet services for a monthly fee of $9.95

Two year program for eligible households with K-12 grades, who receive free lunches will get internet services for $9.95 a month

What can be Done to Help Students get Access at Home?

‘EVEYONE’ is a campaign, coordinated by the non-profit organization ‘Connect2Complete’

it brings together partners from both private and public sectors to address digital divide

The program offers low cost devices, internet services and literacy programs around the country

Their goal: to give internet access at home to 100 million Americans

Why is this Program Important?

The program brings discounts to low-income families, so they can purchase devices and internet services not only to benefit their lives, but also their children’s lives. The internet can be about empowering students, and challenging them to learn. That is why it is important for students to have internet access at home, to continue the students learning.

The Department of Education’s Thoughts on the Program

The DOE has been using a bullhorn to get the word out about this program. They see internet access important to:

*Personalized learning

*Help students and parents use data to make informed educational choices

*To improve connectivity in schools

Benefits for Students when having Internet at Home

Will perform better on Exams

*Research shows that a million students’ exam results, on average, will be lower due to NO internet access at home.

Students gain insight from others

*Students can share knowledge

*Students can learn from other students

Benefits:

Students can participate in blog discussions or discussions boards with other students and teachers

Students can share ideas and solutions with other students

Spend quality time on projects, homework, and assignments for school

Another Plus to Having Internet at Home:

Flipped-Classrooms- using technology

*Online video instruction

*Laptops

*DVDs of lessons

This reverses what students have traditionally done in the classroom to now being able to do at home.

Flipped- Classrooms:

The Benefits to Flipped-Classrooms are:

*More one-on-one time with the teacher

*Students work at own pace or with other students

Flipped-Classrooms can only be possible if students have internet access at home

Digital Divide

There is a Digital Divide in this country, it is the lack of Wi-Fi in students’ homes across the United States. Without students being able to work at home on projects, assignments, homework and ect., that requires internet access to do research, is leaving many students behind and widening lower achievement levels for many of these students. Internet access at home is a future must!

References:

www.huffingtonpost.com

http://blogs.kged.org/mindset

www.povertyactionlab.org

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com

http://www.theguardian.com/education

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu

http://blogs.kged.org